The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-02-17
assumed authority.

k83kiiabe 20 Wdft nero tiiI tDo up stage COuleA
She's bound to stop on account Of the snow;
and I've done my dooty when hand the
horses over to the drfver.n
+ ABut IL she hears Of the block mp yer, and
waits ut the lower stationr said Rawlins
"Then I've done my dooty all the same.
'Skuse me, gentlemen, but them ez hez their
own horses kin do ez they Ike
As this clearly pointed to Hale, he briefly
assured his companions that he had no inten-
ton Of deserving them. "If cannot reach
Eagles Court I shall at least keep as near it
as possible. / suppose any messenger from
my house 10 the Summit win learn where
am and why am delayedf ...
Messenger from your housed" gasped Raw
Inns. Are you crazy, strangera Only bird
would get outer Eagles now; and It would
thew tobe aneagisas that Between your
house and the Summit the snow must be ten
feet by this time, to say nothing Of the drift
in the pass"
Halo felt it was the truth. At any other
time he would have worried over this unex-
pected situation, and in utter violation of all
bis traditions. He was past that now, and
even felt certain relief. He knew his fam
ny were safe; it was enough. That they
were locked up securely, and incapable of in
terfering with him, seemed to enhance his
new, half conscious, half shy enjoyment of
an adventurous existence.
The ostler, who had been apparently lost
in contemplation Of the steep trail he had
just descended, suddenly clapped his hand to
his leg with an ejaculation of gratified aston
ishment.
"Waal, darn my skin eff that amt Hennick-
er's slide all the time! heard it was some
what about here"
Rawlins briefly explained to Hale that
slide was rude incline for the transit of
heavy goods that could not be carried down
trail.
"And Hennicker's," continued the man,
saint more nor mile away. Yc might try
Hennicker's at push, chi"
BY . common instinct the whole party
looked obviously at Hale. "Who's Hen.
nickerl" he felt compelled to ask.
The ostler hesitated and glanced at the
others to reply. "There are folks" he said
lazily at last, "ez believes that Hennicker
amt much better nor the crowd we'rc hunt
ing; but they don't say it to Hennicker. We
needn't let ON what we're after"
II for one," said Hale stoutly, decidedly
object to any concealment of our purpose"
at don't follow" said Rawlins carelessly,
that Hcnnicker even knows of this yer
robbery. It's his gineral gait we refer to.
Ell yer think it more polite, and 1t makes it
more sociable to discuss this matter aforo
him, I'm agreed"
"Hale MEANS" said Clinch, "that it
wouldn't be on tho square to take and make
use Of any points we might pick up there
agin the road agents. n
"Certainly," said Hale. 1t was not at all
what he bad meant, but be felt singularly
relieved ct the compromise
"And ez Ilreckon Hennickcr amt such q
foolas not to know who we are and what
we're out for" continued Clinch, II reckon
there amt any concealment."
"Then it's Hennicker'sP' said the ostler,
with swift deduction.
"Hennicker it is! Lead on"
The ostler remounted his horse and the
others followed. The trail presently turned
into broader track, that bore some signs Of
approaching habitations, and at the end Of
five minutes they came upon q clearing. 1t
was part of one of the fragmentary mountain
terraces, and formed by itself vast niche,
or brackstef shelf, in the hollow flank of the
mountain that. to Hales first glance, bore a
rude resemblance to Eagles Court But
there was neither meadow nor open field; the
few acres Of ground had been wrested from
the forest by AZ and fire. and unsightly
stumps everywhere marked the rude and diff
fcult attempts, at cultivation; Two or three
rough buildings of unplaned and unpainted
boards, connected by rambling sheds, stood
| In the center Of the ampitheatre. Far from
being protected by the encircling rampant, it
| seemed to be the selected arena for the COM
hating elements. A wbirlwind from the
outer abyss continually filled this cave Of
Eolus with driving snow, which, however,
melted rs it fell, or was quickly whirled
away again. E...-.... r,
A few dogs barked and ran out to meet the
| cavalcade, but there was no other sign OF
any life disturbed or concerned at their ap-
proach. F..
II reckon Hennicker amt home or he'd hev
been on tho lookout afore this" said the ost-
Ter, dismounting and rapping at the door.
After n silence . female voice, unintelligi-
bly, to the others, apparently had some COLO
guy with the astler, who returned to tho
party.
"Must go in through the kitchin-can't
open the door for the wind" tz-
Leaving their horses in the shed, they en-
tered tho kitchen, which communicated, and
presently came upon square room filled with
smoke from . fire af green pine logs. The
doors and windows were tightly fastened;
1 the only air came in through the large
/ throated chimney in yoluminous gusts,
which seemed TO mako tho hollow she'll Of the
apartment swell and expand to the point Of
bursting. Despite the singing Of the resin
Gus smoke, the temperature was grateful to
the bcnumbed travellers. Several cushionless
arm chairs, such as were used in barrooms,
two tables, sidsboard, half bar and half
cupboard, and q rocking chair comprised the
/ IuIultufcp diiu " tSH pSoS Rst4 pAifofd ShAiis
covered the floor. Hale sank into one of the
arm chairs, and, with . lazy satisfaction,
partly born Of his fatigue and partly from
some newly discovered appreciative faculty,
gazed around the room, and then at the mis-
tres n Tie house, with whom the others were
taking.
Shewas tall, gaunt and withered; in spite
Of her evident years, her twisted hair was
stiIl dark and fun, and her eyes bright and
piercing, her compilation and teeth had lapg
since succumbcd TO the vitiating effects Of
frontier cookery, and her lips were stained
with the yellow juice Of q brierwood pipe
she held In her mouth. The ostler had ex-
| planned their intrusion, and yelled their
character under the vague epithet Of q
1hunting party" and was now evidently de-
4 scribing them personally. In his new found
philosophy the fact that the interest Of his
hostess sscI1ctl TO be excited only by the
names Of his companions, that he himself
was carelessly, and even deprecatingly, al.
luded TO as the stranger from Eagles by
the ostler, and completely overlooked by the
old woman, gave him no concern.
aYou'l have to talk to Zenobia yourself.
T<.1 r<,f af Tn. ev;,,o n, iytarforo Cha Lno.ru